The Knife: Off Record – 128

Podcast: The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
Hosts: Pasha Eaton & Hannah Smith
Episode Date: October 9, 2025
Main Theme: The Fascinating and Layered Story of the Trenchcoat Robbers – America’s Notorious Bank Robbing Duo

Episode Overview

In this Off Record episode, co-hosts Pasha Eaton and Hannah Smith deep dive into the true story of the “Trenchcoat Robbers”—a notorious pair of bank robbers who terrorized banks across the U.S. for decades. Through engaging narration, in-depth investigative research, interviews with a retired ATF agent crucial to their capture, and heartfelt perspective from the daughter of one of the robbers, the episode uncovers not just the deeds of the criminals but also the far-reaching ripple effects of their choices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the Story

• [02:17] Pasha is excited to share a story Hannah knows nothing about, emphasizing the unique perspective they’ll get from someone closely connected to the case.
• [03:01] Pasha traces her interest to a prior interview with a kidnapping victim (Ellen), leading to an interest in heist psychology and bank robberies.
• [03:50] The hosts recall their previous bank robber interview, marveling at the layers in offenders' mindsets:
  “Does the ability to do good and bad lie in everyone? Probably, yes.” — Pasha Eaton [04:14]

The Early Days – Boosting with the Kansas City Mob

• [07:50] The story begins in 1974: Billy Kirkpatrick (“Billy”) and Ray Bowman (“Ray”) start their criminal partnership stealing records for Kansas City mob boss Anthony "Tiger" Cartarella, owner of Tiger Records.
• [09:30] Retired ATF Agent Paul Marquardt describes their early methods:
  “They had these trench coats with hidden pockets … one of them would distract the clerk while the other one’s sticking albums in their coat.” — Paul Marquardt [09:30]

Evolution from Boosters to Bank Robbers

• [14:34] First major heist in 1982—robbing an Annapolis, MO bank, wearing disguises inspired by pop culture (“wigs, sunglasses, hats”), netting $60,000.
• [15:53] Pattern emerges: Robberies escalate in violence and boldness, e.g. kidnapping a bank employee’s family in 1987 and using them to access the vault (Des Moines, IA).
  “It’s definitely an escalation … you’re gonna go to this guy’s home, take his wife and kid.” — Hannah Smith [16:46]

Criminal Modus Operandi & Dynamics

• [20:00] The “trenchcoat” disguises, their careful avoidance of detection (rotating cars, safe deposit boxes across the country), and communication secrecy (using pay phones and code words).
• [21:39] The trust in their partnership:
  “It really requires a lot of trust in each other … in some ways, it’s sort of like this sweet friendship: we have this secret, it works.” — Hannah Smith [21:13]

The Law Closes In: Seemingly Minor Mistakes Unravel the Duo

• [26:12] May 1997, a break in the case: A storage facility in Kansas City finds machine guns, silencer components, disguises, and crime pamphlets in a locker rent-delinquent and registered to Ray Bowman.
  “The name on the storage unit is Ray Bowman. Not even a fake name.” — Pasha Eaton [28:10]
• [36:55] Unsung hero: Alan Powell, the “scared” storage office clerk, writes down Ray’s license plate after he returns to pay the bill—vital for connecting Ray to the investigation.
• [38:42] Police defy ATF’s warning and interview Ray’s ex-girlfriend Cheryl, who provides a treasure trove of information:
  “She told them stuff about how … at one time, he asked her to sew him a bulletproof vest with Kevlar. Just a wealth of knowledge.” — Paul Marquardt [39:43]

Piecing Together the Puzzle

• [40:27] Phone and mail surveillance, trash runs, and connecting the threads from Ray to Billy through family, old mugshots, and arrest records.
• [43:13-44:44] Another tip: Billy and his girlfriend Myra Penny, while building a Minnesota cabin, irritate their contractor with large cash payments—the contractor calls the IRS, triggering a parallel tax investigation.

The Takedown

• [46:22-47:04] November 1997: Billy, caught speeding in Nebraska with $1.8 million cash in his trunk, is arrested during a questionable search (but authorities find a way to hold him).
  “He finds a couple guns … and $1.8 million in cash.” — Paul Marquardt [47:04]
• [50:05] Ray, knowing the heat is on, stashes duffel bags of cash with his estranged brother before his own arrest.
• [51:11] The iconic “locked room” in Ray’s house, requiring a locksmith and yielding $379,000 and 85 guns.

Unraveling the Legacy: Aftermath and Family Impact

• [54:00] Out of over 20 robberies, only three can be prosecuted due to statutes of limitations.
• [54:43] Billy takes a plea; serves around 13 years and is released in 2011. Myra, who tried to bail him out with stolen cash, does six months for money laundering.
• [56:03] Ray goes to trial, is sentenced to 24+ years, and dies in prison in 2011.

The Ripple Effect: Collateral Damage & Family Reflections

Innocent (or Not) Men Wrongly Convicted

• [56:58] Two Boston criminals, Frank Buldach and Frances Larkin, are wrongly convicted for robberies carried out by the Trenchcoat Robbers due to FBI mix-ups in Boston.
• [59:01] They’re eventually exonerated and released after Billy admits to the true perpetrators—a striking example of justice system fallibility:
  “No matter if you think they’re a good person or not, [wrongful conviction] is an injustice.” — Hannah Smith [59:25]

The Human Side: Ray Bowman as Father

• [60:08] Pasha interviews Ray’s daughter, Sam Bowman, offering poignancy and complexity rarely seen in true crime.
  “She fully acknowledged what he did. … And I think it’s totally within her rights to also acknowledge that he was her dad.” — Pasha Eaton [61:04]
• [61:32] Sam recalls her father’s warmth, habits, and routines:
  “Every night I would climb in his lap and he’d rub my back … then he would carry me to my room and tuck me in and say, ‘buenas noches.’” — Sam Bowman [61:51]
• [62:39] He was “very fashionable” and took pride in his appearance, a trait Sam emulates.
• [64:42] Sam never noticed displays of extravagance while young, noting her life only changed financially after his arrest.

Reconciling Legacy and Morality

• [70:31] Sam reflects:
  “It’s so these shades of gray … everyone is a shade of gray. … He was kind in so many ways. … He was, for a short time, a very good dad.” — Sam Bowman [70:31]
• [68:49] She learned the truth about her father’s crimes at age 10 by secretly watching a documentary her sister tried to shield her from.

Notable Quotes

• “Does the ability to do good and bad lie in everyone? Probably, yes.” — Pasha Eaton [04:14]
• “They had these trench coats with hidden pockets inside and they would go out to small towns in Kansas … ” … then offload all those record albums to Tiger’s record shop.” — Paul Marquardt [09:30]
• “It really requires a lot of trust in each other. … In some ways, it’s sort of like this sweet friendship: we have this secret, it works.” — Hannah Smith [21:13]
• “The name on the storage unit is Ray Bowman. Not even a fake name.” — Pasha Eaton [28:10]
• “If [the clerk] doesn’t do that [note the license plate], we aren’t any closer to figuring out who he is. But he did.” — Paul Marquardt [36:55]
• “She fully acknowledged what he did … but also acknowledged that he was her dad.” — Pasha Eaton [61:04]
• “Everyone is a shade of gray.” — Sam Bowman [70:31]

Important Timestamps

• 02:17 — Pasha introduces the Trenchcoat Robber story.
• 07:50 — Tracing roots: Billy and Ray’s first crimes together.
• 09:30 — Paul Marquardt describes their MO.
• 14:34 — First bank robbery.
• 16:25-16:46 — Robbery escalates into kidnapping.
• 26:12 — Storage unit becomes unraveling point.
• 36:55 — Alan Powell’s license plate note.
• 39:43 — Cheryl gives ATF major breakthrough.
• 47:04 — Billy caught in Nebraska with $1.8 million.
• 51:11 — The “locked room” and what authorities found.
• 54:43-56:03 — Outcomes: plea deals, sentences, prison, and death.
• 60:08-70:31 — Sam Bowman’s reflections.

Tone & Language

The tone is clever, empathetic, and often wry/reflective. Both hosts weave facts with personality: drawing out moral nuance, humanizing all involved, and lingering on “gray areas,” particularly through Sam’s moving memories.

Overall Structure

• Introduction: Setting up the story’s intrigue and why it matters.
• Main Heist Timeline: How Billy and Ray evolved from teen thieves to legendary bank robbers.
• Investigation: The gradual, painstaking investigation—lots of luck, minor mistakes, and administrative footwork (with major contributions from regular people like Alan Powell and ex-girlfriend Cheryl).
• Consequences: Sentencing, the impact on loved ones, the collateral damage (including wrongful convictions).
• Family Legacy: The ripple effect seen through the eyes of Ray’s daughter.

Memorable Moments

• The “bad search” that netted $1.8 million ([47:04])
• Paul’s story about the “Crown Royal bag” full of silencer parts ([29:11])
• Sam’s description of her dad’s “giant green armchair” and nightly routine ([61:32])
• Billy and Ray’s near-mythical trust, despite a lifelong criminal partnership.

Final Takeaway

This is a quintessential Knife episode—empathetic, solution-oriented, and humanizing. Through a rich, well-structured narrative, listeners gain a sense of the complexity, consequence, and generational impact of headline-making crimes. The episode refuses to settle for hero/villain binaries, instead drawing out shades of gray and weaving personal stories into the larger fabric of true crime.

For further reading/listening:

• Prior interviews with victims and ex-FBI
• The podcast “My Fugitive Dad” for similar exploration of family impacts
• Follow The Knife on socials for more stories and behind-the-scenes